Why does achieving carbon neutrality matter?
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas that is linked to climate change. While naturally occurring CO2 from sources like soil, water, plants and animals is part of the earth’s necessary carbon cycle, CO2 emissions produced by human activity are increasing amounts of CO2 in the earth’s atmosphere, contributing to the global rise in temperature. Carbon dioxide emissions are produced largely from the burning of fossil fuels (natural gas, oil, and coal) for energy and transportation. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, CO2 made up 80% of all greenhouse gas emissions produced by human activity in the United Stated in 2022. If left unchecked, carbon emissions may increase Milwaukee County’s average temperatures by about 10 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century. This is why achieving carbon neutrality is an essential step in mitigating the worst effects of climate change. Milwaukee County is committed to doing our part to transition to clean energy in pursuit of a climate resilient, sustainable future.
CA50 addresses three major climate vulnerabilities specific to our region:
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More intense, prolonged heatwaves,
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Increased risk of flooding,
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Acute air quality hazards
Building a healthier, more resilient, and equitable Milwaukee County
By reducing carbon emissions, we will improve both indoor and outdoor air quality, reduce noise pollution, and create more comfortable living conditions for generations to come. The health of our community is closely tied to the quality of our environment. To address the challenges presented by climate change, we’re working to make Milwaukee County not only sustainable, but resilient. A resilient environment is one that doesn’t break when things get tough but instead prepares, adapts, and recovers from diverse conditions and disruptions. We’re addressing climate factors, the economy, aging infrastructure, and social inequities to improve Milwaukee County’s resilience. (see page 15 of the CA50 document to read more about how resiliency is a core function of the plan)
Milwaukee County declared racism a public health crisis in 2019 due to historic government policies and practices that created an uneven playing field for residents of our community. Since then, the county has developed its vision of becoming the healthiest county in Wisconsin by achieving racial equity. Achieving environmental justice for all is part of this vision.
Climate change impacts all of us, however, historically underserved, and vulnerable populations face disproportionate effects of climate change. Our Climate Vulnerability Assessment found that vulnerable populations (defined based on income, educational attainment, language, race and ethnicity, age, disability, and unemployment) are more likely to live in areas of Milwaukee County with increased environmental hazards such as extreme heat and poor air quality.
This is due partly to historic residential segregation and inequitable placement of polluting industries. Milwaukee County has a significant amount of aging infrastructure as well, with the median structure having been built in 1956, before the widespread adoption of air conditioning. These communities that have been historically underinvested also lack access to green spaces and tree cover. Taken together, these factors contribute to what is known as the Urban Heat Island effect – an urban area that experiences significantly higher temperatures than surrounding environments with more vegetation. This occurs when natural surfaces are replaced with unshaded roads and buildings which reflect heat instead of absorbing it.
To help achieve environmental justice for all, Milwaukee County is prioritizing green projects in communities that are the most vulnerable to climate change, improving our emergency response plans, and providing resources to help communities recover from climate-related damages. Doing so will help empower residents to adapt to climate change while providing co-benefits like green jobs and education to these communities.
Planning Timeline
2021
- The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors adopted File 21-389 committing the County to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2050.
- Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley established the Sustainability Task Force charged with drafting the Framework for achieving carbon-neutral County operations.
- The Sustainability Task Force creates its planning framework for Climate Action 2050 Plan. The guiding framework is aligned with Milwaukee County’s strategic vision of becoming the healthiest county in Wisconsin by achieving racial equity.
2022
- Milwaukee County creates the Community Engagement Strategy to inform our community about the CA50, while learning about their concerns, values, and needs to incorporate these into further project planning.
2023
- The Office of Sustainability holds two Community Workshop events to explain the project and receive feedback from community members.
- Milwaukee County conducts an Emissions Assessment consisting of an emissions audit and a business-as-usual emissions forecast to predict future levels.
- The Office of Sustainability conducts a Climate Vulnerability Assessment to identify key climate change impacts which include increased heat events, increased flood risks, and acute air quality hazards. The assessment examines future projections of these impacts under high-emissions constraints and low-emissions constraints and examines which populations across Milwaukee County are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
2024
- A preliminary Climate Action Strategies List is created to identify high-priority action items and gaurantee the long-term success of CA50 across Milwaukee County Operations, community spaces and organizations.
2025
- Milwaukee County adopts Climate Action 2050 Plan to address climate change while advancing equity, justice, and community resilience. This comprehensive plan provides a county-wide greenhouse gas reduction strategy.
Founding Legislation
Milwaukee County’s Climate Action 2050 Plan is founded on the following legislation adopted by the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors.
Resolution 21-389 calls for the creation of a strategic plan for Milwaukee County to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The resolution states that achieving carbon neutrality is vital for combatting the worst effects of climate change in our region, and for improving the health and well-being of our community. To achieve carbon neutrality, the resolution calls for the reduction of emissions and energy use across Milwaukee County transportation, buildings, and equipment by transitioning to clean energy and incorporating carbon offsets, such as the planting of trees. The resolution also cites existing research from the US Global Change Research Program which finds that communities of color are disproportionately affected by climate change and calls for the mitigation of climate and racial inequity.
Resolution 25-262, signed into law in April 2025, formally adopted the Milwaukee County Climate Action 2050 Plan to achieve carbon neutrality. Three high-priority vulnerabilities related to changes in our regional climate are identified: more intense, prolonged heatwaves, increased risk of flooding, and acute air quality hazards. This resolution states that achieving carbon neutrality will help mitigate these risks as well as create co-benefits for our community such as the creation of green jobs. It is also established that the Director of the Office of Sustainability will provide a yearly report on the implementation of climate action strategies and emissions reduction progress.
Resolution 26-338 reaffirms Milwaukee County's commitment to the principles and goals of the Paris Agreement which aim to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change. The primary goal of the Paris Agreement is to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures. While the US exited the Paris Agreement in January 2026, this resolution upholds that even in the absence of federal legislation, local governments including Milwaukee County have a responsibility to protect the planet, and fellow human beings against the threats of climate change now and for generations to come.
Plan Reports
